Aluminum Parts Cleaning

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I was thinking of taking my fork legs somewhere to be media blasted, since they are all taken apart.

What is the current "best" media to use for this cast aluminium?

Walnut shells?
Baking soda?
Glass beads?
(I'm betting not sand...)

Others that I can't remember right now?


Or should I just sit down with some Simple Green and scotchbrite pads and hope the dirt gets tired before I do?  


TIA

[montmil]

Rob, I think I would take the lowers to your potential Master Blaster and ask for the professional opinion.

In many of my hot rod magazines, soda seems to be the choice for paint removal without damaging the metal substrate. Very messy.

Bead blasting leaves a nice finish. Walnut media is great for cleaning. May take a combination of two different media types.

No sand, please... that's Justin's territory.

Monte

[Bob_Roller]

Walnut shell, soda, or plastic media, would be best on this soft material .

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I found this place not too far from home.
They look like they might be O.K.

http://www.idsblast.com/jobshop.html

[R65_Mark]

I use walnut shells for "cleaning" aluminum of this type, but if the forks sliders have brake dust on them like mine it's likely to be a long job, so something a little more aggressive might be better.  Glass beads/sand are likely to be too aggressive unless used very carefully - and then it can be difficult to get an even texture/finish.  If I'm feeling lazy of want a more polished finish, I put large parts of assemblies like this in a vibratory de-burring tumbler with a stone or metal media and one of the many proprietary additives.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Thanks Mark.  I think I will print that out for my visit to the above referenced blaster.